PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: CALLS FOR DEPOLITICISED DECENTRALISATION

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said decentralisation of public-sector jobs out of Belfast is such an important public policy issue that it must not be allowed to fall foul of vested political interests.  

He said: “We already have everyone nodding in agreement to the principle of decentralising jobs, but getting actual decisions made and rolled out could be a different matter. Our Party Leader Mark Durkan made a strong case for legislation so that we don’t get plans watered down to meaninglessness by senior civil servants who want to hold their little empires together.

“The fact is that decentralisation can help realise a number of immediate public policy objectives: lower congestion, fewer cars on the road, better take-up of public transport; less pressure on the Belfast housing market; regeneration of rural towns and balanced regional development. There are also quality-of-life gains for thousands of civil servants who are far from well-paid, yet may be spending £60 to £80 a week on petrol just to get to work.

“It is important, not least for civil service morale, not only that decentralisation takes place as soon as possible, but that locations are chosen on sound policy grounds and not on the basis of some sort of political bargaining process.

“Mark Durkan said that through an Assembly question to the Finance Minister he had established that 823 civil servants are currently seeking transfer to Derry.

“Some of these workers are currently commuting and I have seen the effects that this has on family life, people’s health and on stress at work. This is in addition to the obvious environmental cost and the financial burden of travel.”

ENDS